Page 38 of Pinky Promises

“I can’t wait to wear those sexy—” But she’s cut off by a throat clearing beside me and a fake cough. Thankfully she didn’t get a chance to finish that statement. None of us need to have our appetites ruined by thinking about what sort of things those two will get up to. I would bet good money that she comes home pregnant.

“As much as I would love to continue this conversation,” Asher mocks, bouncing baby Olivia, who is strapped to his chest, “I believe our table is ready.”

Callum, Hadley, and I cheer, and Ben rolls his eyes at our reaction. Hey, I figured that he would want to get brunch over with to get going on his honeymoon—so that Lex can wear whatever sexy item she was talking about.Oh my God, I’m just as bad as her.

Asher and Hadley lead the group, following the waitress, with Ben and Lexi close behind. I only manage two steps before Cal tugs on my hand and jerks me back into his hard chest.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, umm, why wouldn’t I be? I’m great.” My voice reaches an octave that I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever heard Whitney Houston reach in her song fromThe Bodyguard.

“I don’t know. I just want to make sure that we’re good. You seem a little jumpy.”

“Pssh, I’m not jumpy.” I’m literally the definition of jumpy right now, ultimately proving his point.I look down at the floor and pretend something interesting is on the floor.

With his finger curved, he tilts my chin up so that I look directly into his intensely icy blue eyes. “Hey, nothing changed between us, B. You’re still you, and I’m still me.”Yeah, only you’ve had your dick inside me.“Brynn, are you even listening to me?”

“Huh?”

I glance over my shoulder to where everyone is already at the table about to sit down. We should probably catch up so we don’t draw attention to ourselves. This is not the place or the time to have this conversation.

“Brynn, look at me,” he commands, so I do.

“Everything is fine. Just relax.”Easy for him to say.He kisses the top of my head before extending his arm for us to continue to the table and join the group.

Brunch was anything but relaxing. Between Lexi and Hadley’s bouncing gaze between Cal and me, clearly dying for details, Cal’s thigh brushing against mine every so often, and my constant staring at his mouth each time he brought his Belgium waffles to it, I was a hot mess. But that wasn’t the worst part—the worst part was when he had whipped cream left on the side of his mouth, and I began to lean forward, wanting to lick it away, teasing him the same way he did me with his tongue. I caught myself mid-motion only to lean over and whisper it to him to get it. One corner of his mouth lifted as he realized what I had just been about to do. I was losing my mind, and I didn’t have the slightest clue what to do with the feelings that Callum had stirred inside me. Is every move that I make driving him just as insane? He is the epitome of calm on the outside, and I am struggling to keep my composure.

“Do you want to get it for me?” His eyes are playful yet full of wonder to see if I would do it this time. However, I’m sticking to my guns. I roll my eyes, grab the napkin from my lap, and toss it directly at his face.

“Here you go. Got it!”

He grumbles something under his breath as he wipes his mouth with my napkin, getting the leftover whipped cream, before he decides to hold my napkin hostage on his lap.Oh, I see what you’re doing, mister, but I will not play this game.

Lexi clinks her glass with the knife, grabbing everyone’s attention, not that she couldn’t have just said, “Hey, guys.” “Well, since you won’t see our beautiful faces for a whole week—”

“How will I ever go on,” Cal jokes dramatically beside me, and I slap his chest with the back of my hand while Lexi scowls at him.

“Anyways, I want to thank you all for everything that made last night so amazing.” Her eyes become glassy, and I know she is fighting back some emotion.

“I’m sorry, we helped make last night amazing? Aw, Ben, you couldn’t do it on your own? That’s a damn shame,” Asher teases.

“Will you all shut up and let my wife talk.” Ben’s smile is so bright when he says the word “wife”that no one even cares about the sternness in his voice.

“Thank you, baby.” She leans over and gives him a quick kiss. “Okay, I just wanted to say thank you and that I love you all, and we couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

“Oh, and to slutty wedding sex,” Hadley shouts at the last minute, smirking in our direction.

“Hear, hear,” everyone shouts while I want this chair to swallow me whole.

That’s it—as soon as I get home, I’m putting an ad in the newspaper for three new best friends because I swear to God, they are all dead to me.

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